Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-11-24

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breadth escape from Miss Bernard's
golden and rosy fascinationa-S C.
Lassellc, tn Current.
RUSSIAN DESPOTISM.
An American Tourists Impressions Of the
Care Government.
It can not be denied that in some re-
spects Russia is the greatest and most
powerful nation in the world. its ter
ritory and its population being greater
than that of any other on the globe. 1t
occupies more than one-half the area
of Europe. and its vast possessions in
Asia are three times greater than in
Europe. 1t is a gigantic wonder
among nations with its 5000. 600 of
square miles of territory, its 100. OO0.-
600 of inhabitants and its grand army
of 5000. 900 men. But about and
around all this glory and greatness
hangs rather the barbaric splendor of
the Oriental than the culture and prog
ress of the European. The whole
country is an armed camp. and at
every step and every turn is soldier
in his long gray coat and broad
crowned cap. and in this connection it
may be mentioned that the cap is the
usual head covering in Russia, and
hats are seldom seen. Travelling in
Russia has many unpleasant features.
and one has the feeling, always, that
he is not wanted and that he is con-
stantly being watched in all his move
ments, and the chances strongly are.
that he is right in both these suppose
tons. The Government is very strict
in all its dealings with foreigners,
and no one is admitted to the
country without passport which has
been vised by some Russian Consul.
And whenever the traveller arrives in
any city or stopping place his passport
must be Immediately surrendered to
the authorities. It is not returned un-
til his departure, and he is not allowed
to leave the country without a permit
written on the back of his passport.
Mine was taken from me so frequently.
examined and duly stamped, and fee
always charged for it. that l regard it
as about the most expensive document
l ever possessed. You never know in
Russia likewise who reads your letters
before you get them or after you mail
them. and no foreign newspapers are
delivered until after the authorities
have read them and blotted out the
Objectionable passages with heavy
black ink SO that they can not be read.
There is no liberty of speech or free
dom of action. The Car is absolute,
and tyranny and oppression reign
everywhere. In such country it is
not strange that Nihilism fourishes,
and if there is any excuse for the Mill
list anywhere, it is here in Russia, and
l can we'll comprehend that q man
might be Nihilist here, who in any
other country would be unconstitutional
agitator and advocate. The policy Of
the Government practically prohibits
any middle ground, and drives many
men finally into Nihilism. who
would otherwise be patriots, working
out the salvation of their country by
peaceable methods. Scarcely any one
IN Russia speaks English. and the En-
glishman is viewed with great dis
favor. all realizing that it is only a
question of few years when the two
countries will be at war with each
other. l always took especial pains
to let it be known that was an Amer
lean. and not an Englishman; French
is spoken almost entirely in the houses
of the aristocracy, and is usually the
language of the home among them,
rather than the harsh and irregular
Russian, but the masses are more
familiar with German than any other
foreign language, a natural result of
the proximity of the two countries.
As Russia is different in every thing.
SO her coinage and measures of dis
tances do not correspond with those
of other European governments. Dis
tances are measured by 'versts"
(two-thirds of mile). and ''arshins"
(twenty inches). and the coinage is
divided into troubles and ''ko-
pecks." The kopeck is about one
half cent of our money, while the
present paper rouble equals fifty
cents The silver rOuble is worth
more. but coin is practically driven
ont of circulation now. as the country
is in terrible financial condition. and
is suffering all the evils of badly-de-
preciatcd and inflated paper currency.
Cor. Indianapolis Sentinel